Chapter 3

In the end, Gary let go of Dana and said awkwardly, "Get some rest. There is still work to do at the office, so I'm going back for some overtime."

After that, he left, almost as though something was chasing after him.

Dana watched him disappear out of the doorway, and her tears surged.

Back then, whenever she worked late, he would show up with something hot to pick her up. He remembered everything she liked. When she got sick, he stayed by her bedside all night…

Those real kindnesses once made her believe she would have a lifetime of happiness.

But seven years of love had ultimately come to an end.

Dana wiped her tears, pulled out her phone, made an appointment to reissue the divorce certificate, and bought a plane ticket that was scheduled to leave in three days.

-

Early the next morning, noises from downstairs woke her.

She went down and saw Sandy standing in the living room, several suitcases piled up beside her.

Kelly snaked her arm around Sandy's and said sweetly, "Sandy, you've finally made it!"

Sandy smiled and patted her hand, then turned to Gary as she said softly, "Gary, my mom is worried that I can't settle in, so she packed a lot of things for me. I'm sorry for this."

Gary replied easily, "We grew up together. Your mom has looked out for Kelly and me for years. You don't need to be courteous with me."

When Kelly noticed Dana, the smile on her face turned cold at once, her tone dripping with bitterness. "Why are you standing there with that nasty face? Sandy is living here to keep me company from now on!"

Sandy stepped forward, gentle and warm. "The psychologist said Kelly can't handle stress, so I came to stay with her so she can be happier."

Dana said nothing and just looked at them quietly.

Gary spoke in a low tone, "Dana already agreed to it."

"This is my house. Who cares if she agrees or not?" Kelly said with a sneer. "If she doesn't like it, she can move out."

Then she turned back to Sandy, her voice sweet again. "Let's go. I'll take you upstairs, and we can pick the best room."

Not long after, heavy thuds started coming from upstairs. Dana went up and found a disaster outside her bedroom. Her clothes and bags had been tossed onto the floor along with the bedside lamp, decorative paintings, and more.

Everything she and Gary had carefully chosen together had been dumped out like trash.

Kelly stood in the middle of the bedroom with her hands on her hips, directing the house staff as they moved things around.

Sandy lingered by the doorway and slowly said, "If I share a room with Kelly, I might disturb her rest. But if I stay too far away, I can't take care of her in time. This room is the closest to hers, so..."

Gary walked over, glanced at Dana, and was about to say something.

However, Dana cut in first with a calm voice, "It's fine. You can stay in whichever room you want."

She crouched down and started gathering her things.

"Dana," Gary looked down at her, guilt in his voice, "You'll have to stay in the guest room for now. After a while, we can redecorate the room..."

"You already let her move in. Where I sleep makes no difference," Dana said.

Gary fell silent, his gaze landing on a rabbit plush on the floor.

It was the prize they had won on their first date at an amusement park. He bent down to pick it up, his voice tense. "This was from our first trip to Dreamland, and we stood in line for half an hour just to win it. You don't want it anymore?"

Dana paused for a moment and eventually said, "Just throw it out. It's too old, anyway."

"Dana..." Gary held the plush and hurried after her. "What's going on with you? You weren't like this before..."

"It's nothing," Dana answered Gary, her voice carrying a faint, bitter tone. "I'm just making room for you two for Kelly's illness. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Gary opened his mouth, but no words came out.